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Cars n' Stars: New VW Beetle Ads to be Fun, NHRA Museum Set to Open, FIA Investigates Big Tobacco

24 March 1998

True to its heritage, the new VW Beetle TV commercials will draw on
yesteryear with a whimsical creative concept. "Less flower . . . more
power" is the punch line.  Another creative approach: "The engine is
in the front, but its heart is in the same place."  The new Beetle
comes with a wonderful new feature: heat!  Hug it, drive it.
 
The new NHRA museum in Pomona, CA--at the Fairplex where the straight
line racing association sanctions two of the most important speed
events--will open April 3-4.  It is a 28,500 sq ft museum built to
hold 50 vintage racers and racing gear.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA), the governing body for all
motorsports, is getting nervous about negative publicity surrounding
any mention of smoking, and they may set a self-imposed ban on F-1 racing
by 2002. The ban would mean a $300 million hit in F-1's pocketbook.

The UAW is setting its sights on Mercedes Benz for a round of
salary/benefit discussions.

Kenworth Trucks is thinking about coming out with the biggest sport
ute of them all.  The Kenworth Pilgrimage will seat 20, can tow a
yacht and has 10 wheels. Sticker is $200,000.

In CART, Arnd Meier is driving a Lola. You saw his yellow race car
lapped many times at Homestead.

At the Australian GP last week Damon Hill was fined $2,500 for pit lane
speeding.  F-1 brass say that the next new dates for GP races will be
China, Malaysia and Korea.

To add some schmaltz to the Trans-Am race at the Toyota Long Beach GP
in two weeks, Rocketsports Racing has entered two "far out" 1998
Corvettes.

CART's Initial Public Offering (IPO) went on the big board at $16.00
and hurriedly reached $19.00 per share.

SCCA Spec Racers have set a 1998 schedule of six races starting at
Topeka on May 15, and ending up at Pikes Peak on September 25-27.

The March 1 SRO Winston Cup race at the Las Vegas Speedway got higher
Nielsen ratings than any other program over the weekend.  5.6 million
households tuned in.

David Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants, is going to
sponsor Tim Moser in Indy Lights this year. He'll be at Long Beach.

Hyundai won the season opener SCCA Pro Rally. Doo Wops 111 in Olympia,
Washington, with Paul Choinere in the drivers seat.

Bill Maloney --  The Auto Channel